Rating: 
Summary: And what a brilliant blurt!
Review: This brilliant biography of Lester Bangs captures the essence of the man and what he was about with great clarity. DeRogatis writes with passion (I mean, he makes Lester's passionate sense of life come alive) and unlocks great swathes of rock culture and rock literature that I had not been aware of. It pleases me to know that Bangs was a kind person with integrity. The afterword covers his legacy in the work of music writers, in the lyrics of other artists, in his musical influence on certain alt-country bands, and in the book "Psychotic Reactions," a compilation of his work by Greil Marcus. The appendices include Lester's "How To Be A Rock Critic" and some of his lyrics, and the book provides copious notes, sources and a wonderful bibliography of Bangs' articles, reviews, books, contributions to anthologies and encyclopedias, letters and recordings, plus articles about him by other authors. It is well-illustrated throughout. Let It Blurt is a classic, both as a fascinating life story and history of rock criticism, and as a valuable reference source to Bangs' work.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating character, devastated life...
Review: This is a fan's book though it is not a hagiography of St Lester. DeRogatis had met Lester shortly before his death and met his friends, relatives, acquaintances, fellow rock-critics. The first surprise is that Lester had a sad life from his very youth, struggling against his mother dedication to the Jehovas witnesses and the symbolic death of his father.
We see Lester trying to become an artist, failing to write the novel he was dreaming of, achieving nevertheless to turn rock criticism in modern litterature. The author manages to recreate quite vividly the atmosphere of the legendary Creem mag offices, then when Lester moves to NYC the CBGB attitude is all there. And Lester through the years loved by women and not able to decipher true love, trying to become a rock musician when he was a star on his own is wasting his life in front of us thanks to booze and substances... This book is like some modern version of an antique greek tragedy and this suits well Lester Bangs, who was a true modern writer.
Rating: 
Summary: Lester Bangbivolent
Review: This is a fine biography of a dude who has never made anybody a better person. I've gotten most of Bangs music snobbery outta my system, but it has taken years. Taste in music is not a moral choice. I am usually a real smart alecy smart alec in my reviews, but if this review keeps one kid from going down the path of thinking that any of this matters, my job here is done.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Bukowski
Review: This is a welcome, if rather brief and somewhat flimsy, addition to the woefully incomplete Lester Bangs canon, as of this date represented solely by Greil Marcus' anthology "Psychotic Reactions and Carb. Dung." Derogatis has interviewed plenty and done his research, and of all the young rock critics out there today, he's probably the one closest to emulating Lester's style and ideas, so credwise he's ok. But while there are some interesting revelations about Lester's boyhood and events in his life, the book rarely does more than scratch the surface of Bangs' writing. Derogatis seems content to gather up numerous chunks of information and a few quotes from Lester, and decide that that alone should tell the story. And in one sense, I suppose it does, but can't help but feel that this book could use more depth. At times, Derogatis seems headed in that direction - periodically, he makes reference to some of Bangs' limitations, or acknowledges that Lester sometimes wasn't the greatest person in the world. I enjoy these tough looks at one of my literary idols - it makes his great pieces all the more impressive. But that's as far as the author will go, and the majority of the book is filled with the kind of pussy-footed trepidation that seperates intellectual criticism from the more suspect fan bio. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan, too, just like Derogatis. But given the opportunity to write about a man who was both talented and interesting, Derogatis only goes about halfway. There's still much to enjoy, and plenty of facts, anecdotes and gossip about the 70's rock scene to keep even the well-informed intrigued. Though disappointed, I still enjoyed it, and can only hope that it will help bring about a new and expanded anthology of Lester's work. Greil's was great, but limited in scope (naturally - it reflected the interests of the compiler, which is fine) - Bangs' essays on the Ramones, Black Sabbath, Miles Davis, reggae, even Grand Funk Railroad, all should be made available to those curious about the full Lester Bangs story. Contact your local publishing house today.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Bukowski
Review: This is a welcome, if rather brief and somewhat flimsy, addition to the woefully incomplete Lester Bangs canon, as of this date represented solely by Greil Marcus' anthology "Psychotic Reactions and Carb. Dung." Derogatis has interviewed plenty and done his research, and of all the young rock critics out there today, he's probably the one closest to emulating Lester's style and ideas, so credwise he's ok. But while there are some interesting revelations about Lester's boyhood and events in his life, the book rarely does more than scratch the surface of Bangs' writing. Derogatis seems content to gather up numerous chunks of information and a few quotes from Lester, and decide that that alone should tell the story. And in one sense, I suppose it does, but can't help but feel that this book could use more depth. At times, Derogatis seems headed in that direction - periodically, he makes reference to some of Bangs' limitations, or acknowledges that Lester sometimes wasn't the greatest person in the world. I enjoy these tough looks at one of my literary idols - it makes his great pieces all the more impressive. But that's as far as the author will go, and the majority of the book is filled with the kind of pussy-footed trepidation that seperates intellectual criticism from the more suspect fan bio. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan, too, just like Derogatis. But given the opportunity to write about a man who was both talented and interesting, Derogatis only goes about halfway. There's still much to enjoy, and plenty of facts, anecdotes and gossip about the 70's rock scene to keep even the well-informed intrigued. Though disappointed, I still enjoyed it, and can only hope that it will help bring about a new and expanded anthology of Lester's work. Greil's was great, but limited in scope (naturally - it reflected the interests of the compiler, which is fine) - Bangs' essays on the Ramones, Black Sabbath, Miles Davis, reggae, even Grand Funk Railroad, all should be made available to those curious about the full Lester Bangs story. Contact your local publishing house today.
Rating:
Summary: Hysterical Nostalgia
Review: This was such a great bio of a very complicated, interesting and intelligent writer. While some considered his rantings cruel and unusual punishment, Lester always believed that "rock stars" and their accompanying egos shouldn't be treated special, that they were just like everyone else. DeRogatis has done a fantastic job in recreating the story of Lester Bangs, his humour, his sarcasm and his compassion. There are also many incredibly funny stories to be found here. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a Bang's fan, or to anyone who has an interest in the grass roots of rock-n-roll critisim.
Rating:
Summary: Life of Lester
Review: When I was a little kid, my older cousin gave me all his old copies of Creem magazine when he joined the army. After watching "Almost Famous", I wished I still had them. Lester Bangs was one of the coolest characters in that movie so I had to learn more about him. I'm glad I got this book because it's a very well written and informative account of his life. Previously, I'd known he was a mad drug abusing journalist and that's about it! The book gets into that and a lot more. I highly recommend it!!!
Rating:
Summary: Life of Lester
Review: When I was a little kid, my older cousin gave me all his old copies of Creem magazine when he joined the army. After watching "Almost Famous", I wished I still had them. Lester Bangs was one of the coolest characters in that movie so I had to learn more about him. I'm glad I got this book because it's a very well written and informative account of his life. Previously, I'd known he was a mad drug abusing journalist and that's about it! The book gets into that and a lot more. I highly recommend it!!!
Rating:
Summary: Lou Reed can go to hell for all I care,but tell Lester "hi,"
Review: When time since the previous day's dinner and today's skipped breakfast had passed such that I began to feel more than just the first stages of nausea arrive upon me, I decided to undertake the task of finding food. With nothing readymade except for some leftover chow mein noodles and a spoonful or two of some hippie ice cream concoction, I turned to old faithful for a quick fix: Ramen Noodles. The package a bit tattered it occured to me that the noodles could be getting stale. No matter, they would soon turn to a salty mush upon being flooded with boiling water anyway. Hunger gnawing at me savagely, I take the bounty of my hunt and retire to the couch. Upon slurping up the first hot, soggy tangled mess of scalding Ramen my stomach at once embraces the food and scorns the insult. I sit the noodles on the table, to cool I suppose. I pick up a book I had been absorbing about Lester Bangs, the unwitting founder of the only school of journalism that matters. The pages are overflowing with tales of Lester's decadence, and the arguments about the nature thereof with Lou Reed. Twenty odd paged advanced in my education on Lester, I am sad that the end of the story, the book and his life, near with each turned page. Something over an hour later I relplace my makeshift bookmark and return to my now cold bowl of Ramen and devour it as if it were a gourmet feast, or a story about a broken-hearted boy trying to cure himself with a bottle of cough syrup and a head full of songs that may or may not have been written especially for him.
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